§ Mr. Home RobertsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) how many Trident D5 II missiles have been procured; and how many more he intends to procure; [19107]
(2) how many MK6 guidance systems for Trident missiles are to be procured for the United Kingdom. [19109]
§ Mr. FreemanThe UK has procured 44 Trident D5 missiles to date. Final decisions have yet to be taken on how many more missiles are to be procured. The intention is to procure sufficient guidance sytems to support the eventual number of UK missiles.
§ Mr. Home RobertsonTo ask the Secretaryof State for Defence if the United States authorities have made any increase in the price of D5 missiles due to reductions in the overall rate of manufacture of these missiles; and if he will make a statement. [19108]
§ Mr. FreemanPrice negotiated for the next order of Tirdent D5 missiles will not be finalised until late this 497W year, following the annual US authorisation and appropriations process.
§ Mr. Home RobertsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many spare MK6 guidance systems are to be deployed in each United Kingdom Trident submarine. [19110]
§ Mr. FreemanEach UK Trident submarine will generally carry one spare MK6 guidance system per four missiles.